City Vision delivering for Waitematā: achievements 2010 – 2016

Since 2010, the City Vision-led Waitematā Local Board has achieved results for you by combining a progressive vision with responsible financial management. Here are the highlights of what we have achieved and the projects we have underway that we hope to take forward with the community into the next term of the Waitematā Local Board.

Parks, recreation, sports, and community facilities

2013- 2016

Completed Stage One of the Myers Park upgrade including new playground, lighting and the installation of CCTV. Secured funding for stage two of the upgrade

Commenced planning on a coastal walkway from Meola Reef to Pt Resolution

Quality urban design and heritage protection

2013 – 2016

Continued the Symonds Street Cemetery restoration with planting, new signage and trails

Started the upgrade of the Ellen Melville Centre as a community hub

Completed the Domain Masterplan as part of the Auckland Domain Committee

Developed the Earthquake Prone Buildings – guidance and approaches: a practical document for building owners, tenants and building managers with particular relevance to assuaging the concerns of owners of heritage buildings in the city who are concerned about the high costs and practical difficulties of bringing those buildings up to the new, more stringent, seismic code

Completed the Newton and Eden Terrace Plan (in collaboration with the Albert-Eden Local Board)

Completed the Newmarket Laneways Plan and finalished a design for a major Teed Street upgrade

Completed an inner city through-links network guide to be published in October. This is a long-awaited project that documents, for the first time in one place, the various through-links and viewing platforms that have been granted throughout the inner city as resource consent conditions granted for the concession of bonus floors on high-rise buildings

Completed planning and design for the Heritage Foreshore Walk which will illustrate and mark out Auckland’s dramatically different pre-1840 shoreline

Completed the Karangahape Road Precinct Plan

‘Re-Imagining Great North Road’ community-led planning fund approved for Great North Road at Grey Lynn and Arch Hill

Plans are also underway for the upgrade of Point Erin pools as a premier lido swimming pool

Championed a significant increase in funding for cycleways that has led to the completion of the Te Ara I Whiti | Lightpath, Nelson St cycleway, Quay St cycleway and a central programme of cycleways

Worked with Auckland Transport on the Ponsonby Road pedestrian experience project

Secured the upgrade of Franklin Road with undergrounding of power lines, stormwater separation, new footpaths, road surfacing, pedestrian crossing and cycle lanes

Advocated for the implementation of the Freemans Bay and Ponsonby Residential Parking Zones (to go live in October) and parking zones in all central city suburbs

Instrumental in securing the funding (from the City Centre Targeted Rate) for Beach Road Cycleway and Walkway Stage 2

Successfully advocated for improved pedestrian safety such as walking improvements at the Grey Lynn shops and in the city centre.

Ensured Auckland Transport leveraged maintenance budget to provide safety improvements for all road users such cycle feeder lanes and stop boxes on Ponsonby Road as part of a resurfacing project

Successfully advocated for the removal of parking minimums from the Unitary Plan

Advocated for new improved local bus services as part of the New Network to be rolled out in 2017

Successfully advocated for the inclusion of a new outcome in the City Centre Masterplan: A walkable and pedestrian- friendly city centre, moving towards zero pedestrian deaths or serious injuries as a result of vehicle collisions.

Initiated a street tree planting policy and identified locations for new street trees (including three new tree pits on Williamson Ave as part of the Countdown development)

Installed three on street drinking stations

Worked with the residents on Hakanoa Street, Grey Lynn to retain historic blue stone kerbing and fix up poor workmanship by Auckland Transport’s contractor

Strong support for the creative arts – gave grants for Art Week, made funding available for art programmes for young people and youth at Art Station, gave grants to community groups for local murals and provided strong advocacy to maintain Arts Alive funding

Instrumental in ensuring the long term survival of Basement Theatre by putting in place a community lease

Increased community funding to $100,000 per year for grants to community and sports groups

First Board to become an “accessible board” with an Accessibility Plan. Made Parnell Festival of Roses Auckland’s first “accessible” event

Won funding for the ATC waterfront theatre development

Completed a youth needs assessment and committed to making young people and children a priority

Undertaking the restructuring and remodelling of Art Station to ensure it succeeds and becomes sustainable as an exciting and high standard arts facility that meets the needs of its community and benefits all Aucklanders, in particular those in Waitematā.

Played a crucial role in the decision of the governing body to give a grant to Holy Trinity Cathedral Selwyn’s vision project

Secured the long-term future of Parnell Trust with a one-off grant

Environmental and sustainability initiatives

2013 – 2016

Continued ecological restoration work across Waitematā including at Waipapa Stream, Lemington Reserve and Auckland Domain

Supported Council work to reduce the use of sprays in streets and at parks

Supported the community gardens with development, capacity building and skills workshops

Provided a $20,000 grant to secure the on-going sustainability of Kelmarna gardens

Stood with the community to save the six majestic Pōhutukawa trees on Great North Road (opposite MOTAT)

led the way in having our Urban Forest assessed as at 2013, to be followed shortly by a 2016 comparison, which will then be rolled out for the whole metropolitan area. This data is of great interest to all those wishing to preserve and increase our trees on public and private land.

Acknowledged as strong advocates for residents to ensure local decisions are made locally

Worked hard advocating for our communities to the governing body (the Mayor and Councillors), and Council Controlled Organisations

Established a strong working relationship with the Mayor and governing body and worked closely with Waitematā and Gulf Ward Councillor Mike Lee

Instrumental in the establishment in 2012 of Auckland Transport’s $10m local board capex fund for local transport projects. We took the issue to the Strategy and Finance Committee that led to a CEO review and favourable outcome for all local boards

Instrumental in the re-establishment of the Central facilities partnership fund

In addition, over the last six years the City Vision team have led and delivered on the Board’s input into every significant regional strategy and policy including the Auckland Plan, Long Term Plan, Annual Plan, Unitary Plan, Regional Land Transport Plan, Waste Minimisation and Management Plan, Thriving Communities Action Plan, and Bylaws review.

Consistently, it is the City Vision team that puts the hard work in and provides a strong, local voice, and skilled and experienced advocacy on behalf of the community.

Waitematā Local Board annual Achievements reports on the Auckland Council website here